Plano Profile August 2010 : Page 30
high profile Besides conducting the Plano Civic Chorus, Ralph Stannard is also choir director of the First Presbyterian Church in Richardson and Temple Emanu-El in Dallas.
High Profile
Heather Darrow
Ralph frederick stannard can still hear the words “please take your seats for a performance from a Plano, Texas, choir” reverberating throughout the elegant, arched ceilings of the famous notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, france. For this Plano Civic Chorus (PCC) artistic director and conductor, performing with singers in the elaborate, 13th-century edifice, which boasts a history of the coronation of french kings, was an overwhelming experience.
“not too many choruses can say they have sung at notre Dame and Canterbury Cathedrals. It was an afternoon concert.
We sang for hundreds, but it felt like a thousand,” said Stannard, who also directs choirs at the first Presbyterian Church of richardson and Temple emanu-el in Dallas.
Next year will mark the fourth time in the last 10 years that members of the PCC and adult sanctuary choir of the first Presbyterian Church of richardson will travel together to perform internationally. In June, the PCC will offer citizens of Plano the opportunity to hear a pre-international performance before the 75-member traveling group embarks on their journey to Germany and northern italy. The 13-day european concert circuit will include a performance in conjunction with guest director Dr. randall Stroope’s chorus at the Berlin Dom as well as three other international performances.
“We will sing in Martin luther’s Castle Church in Wittenburg. He is buried at that church. He was a huge part of the reformation. We will be at the place where luther preached at the pulpit. We are hoping to be approved to play in the Duomo. You have to audition. The acoustics are fantastic, and the historical significance is amazing. When we come back the singers are better singers because of all of the hard work. It also brings prestige to the city. Our own PCC season is very full and fulfilling, too. Listeners will hear four great concerts that are very different and unique.” The PCC has been in existence for 37 years and is comprised of 130 singers who audition every two years. Stannard has been directing the group for 10 years. In addition to performing four PCC concerts, this year the choral group will also perform in two Plano Symphony orchestra concerts.
“When they auditioned me, the chorus had maybe 50 people in it. It had a different focus back then and performed works for smaller choruses. They wanted me to develop the chorus into a larger group with orchestras and involve more people in the community. We’ve doubled the size in the last 10 years.” Though Stannard always loved music, he spent the bulk of his initial training learning to play instruments.
At 5 years old, he began taking piano lessons, added saxophone in middle school, and bassoon in high school. In college, he planned to become a high school or college band director. It wasn’t until a friend asked him to sub-direct his church choir that Stannard realized his true musical passion.
“it was like some veil lifted and that was what i was supposed to do. It was like some divine plan. But the instrumental worked out because i am directing the orchestra, too.
I shifted from instrumental and took voice lessons and vocal techniques.” Stannard says the University of north Texas’ Professor emeritus frank McKinley, now deceased, took him under his wing and helped him learn the intricacies of choral music while he was working on his Ph.D. Prior to directing the PCC, Stannard sang baritone with the Dallas Symphony orchestra under the direction of former chorus director David r. Davidson, who died in 2009.
“With the PCC, i get to do things my church chorus can’t do because of the size. It is really my personal music outlet.
It is not all sacred music. There are a lot of secular pieces, too, and there are very dedicated people. We re-audition every two years.
That keeps the group moving forward and allows you to do more difficult things over time because you know what singers can do individually.” With an international itinerary behind and in front of him, individuals might be surprised to learn that Stannard’s magical moments are frequently in the musical trenches.
“People would think the high is the concert itself. It is a nice payoff, but the most fun for me is in the rehearsal. You see their eyes light up when they finally get it after working a hard passage. It is all about karma and how do i get them focused in music and out of the rough patches of the day. I love sharing the music with people and having them get enthusiastic like i am. When they figure out what the composer was trying to do—those are sparkle moments.” Stannard says what sets the PCC apart is the distinct sound he is able to pull from the singers. He hopes that signature sound will help the chorus reach their goal to have a full house at every concert.
“each chorus is representative of the director. My personality is different from the people i learned from. That’s why we like to travel and sing for new audiences and get some feedback and criticism.
As a conductor, you live and die with your last performance.” “A SeASon to CelebrAte!” Music Director ralph Stannard celebrates his 10-year anniversary with the Plano Civic Chorus. All concerts will be held at St. andrew United Methodist Church.
A Master’s Masterpiece!
Gioachino rossini, Petite Messe Solennelle . October 23, 8 p.m. Plano Civic Chorus; Jon Schweikhard, piano; Don Powers, piano; Sarah Griffiths, soprano; Debra Scroggins, alto; Jonathan Yarrington, tenor; Thomas Canon, bass; ralph Stannard, conductor.
According to Stannard, Petite Messe Solennelle means small solemn mass. Rossini originally wrote this piece for two virtuoso pianists, not a complete orchestra.
The PCC will adhere to the original format, and the stage will be set with two, 12-foot grand pianos.
“it is going to be great. Most singers in my chorus will not know this piece, but there are a couple of really famous solos that Pavarotti and others have recorded. People will say, ‘oh, i never realized where it came from.’ i picked it because the audience will
Get a kick out of it. It will expand the audience’s and chorus’ appreciation of music. It will be a lot of fun.” Messiah Sing-Along, George Frederick Handel, Messiah December 11, 8 p.m. Plano Civic Chorus; Dallas Chamber Orchestra; Colleen Klein Oates, soprano; Natalie Arduino, alto; Joseph Davison, tenor; David Grogan, bass; Ralph Stannard, conductor.
This is the first concert that Stannard directed at the PCC, but this year he is adding a new twist by making it a sing-along.
“We are inviting the whole community to come sing with us. I think it will be fun and a different way to do the Messiah. I’m always surprised by how many Handel’s Messiah junkies there are and how many people can sing it really well. I think it will be a hoot.” The Maestro’s Ten-Year Celebration, Choral Favorites from Seasons Past March 5, 8 p.m. Plano Civic Chorus; Dallas Chamber Orchestra; Ralph Stannard, conductor.
According to Stannard, this concert will feature works like Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna,” “Elijah,” Mozart’s “Requiem” and others.
“We will look at all the big works we have performed in the last 10 years and sing excerpts from each one. This is a concert of everybody’s favorite moments of past concerts.” An Evening with Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, Composer and Conductor June 4, 8 p.m. Plano Civic Chorus; Dallas Chamber Orchestra; Jon Schweikhard, piano; Ralph Stannard and Dr. Stroope, coconductors.
According to Stannard, Stroope, a distinguished composer and conductor from Oklahoma State University, is a highly published composer.
“He has a very unique style. He writes secular and sacred pieces with and without a full orchestra. People in the choral world know his work, and we want to share it with the people in Plano. People will get to hear a preinternational performance.” Plano Civic Chorus auditions PCC auditions will be held on the evenings of August 2, 9 and 16. For more information about the PCC, call 972.606.5220 or visit planocivic chorus.org. Freelance writer Heather Darrow is a frequent contributor to Plano Profile.
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